So here we go! All photos are with TWO coats of color, no top coat and no clean up.
Okay, so I tried to take shots in different lighting to see if I could really tell the difference. Honestly, if I saw this alternating mani on someone else, I wouldn't know it wasn't the same color. If they pointed it out and I examined it closely, I *might* be able to tell which fingers were different from the others. But I wouldn't probably be able to tell which brand was which. Upon VERY close examination, Zoya Petra appears just a smidge darker and MAC Festive Finery might have a tad more purple in the base. Maybe.
BUT, as you all know, those aren't the only considerations, oh no. We confirmed nail polish addicts, or connoisseurs if you prefer, must take several other things into consideration.
1. Availability
*Zoya Petra is easily available in the US at Ulta or from zoya.com.
*MAC Festive Finery is probably a little more difficult to find by now. It's not available online (at least right now) and was sold out at my local MAC counter last time I checked.
2. Price
*Zoya Petra, in the US at least, is $8.00 from zoya.com.
*MAC Festive Finery is is available on their site or at MAC counters for $15.00.
3. Size/Quantity
*Zoya bottles contain 0.5 ounces (15 ml.)
*MAC bottles contain 0.34 ounces (10 ml.)
4. Formula/Application
*Zoya Petra applied perfectly in two coats. Care must be taken to avoid cuticle drag or a 3rd coat may be necessary, but familiarity with the formula will take care of that. The brush is skinny, but cut well for ease of application and minimal to no clean up. (As all of you know by now, no clean up gets bonus points from me!) Dries to a smooth, shiny finish. The bottle top/brush grip is tapered slightly and is easy to maneuver.
*MAC Festive Finery covered in two coats, but cuticle drag was inevitable for me and a third coat would be necessary for sure - for me. (Photos above show only two coats of each polish, so you can see the cuticle drag.) The brush is skinny but also cut well for ease of application and minimal to no clean up. Dries to a smooth, shiny finish. The bottle top/brush grip is a bit unwieldy because of its wide/odd shape. That sort of thing doesn't bother me, but I know it can be an issue for some people.
So, with all of the above taken into consideration, Zoya Petra wins for me. No contest.
What do you think? Do you have either/both?
